Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs HiFiMAN Ananda Unveiled: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Audeze Maxwell 2 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Audeze Maxwell 2 - Outstanding overall at around $329.
Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Ananda Unveiled
80Outstanding
$400
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze Maxwell 2 leads on 5 of 6 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- HiFiMAN Ananda Unveiled
HearWiki score
88
80
Sound
9.5
8.6
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
8.7
Price (USD)
$330
$400
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
Audeze Maxwell 2 (2026) against HiFiMAN Ananda Unveiled (2025). These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. The platform is level; the newer hardware shows up in convenience features instead - the Audeze Maxwell 2 adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 220261 yr newer
- Ananda Unveiled2025
What differsMaxwell 2Ananda Unveiled
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2Ananda Unveiled
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $400
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 80
- Released
- 2026
- 2025
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 80 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- planar
- planar
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 80 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 5 Hz - 55 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 22 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 93 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- -
- Battery life
- 80 h
- -
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- -
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- -
- Weight
- 560 g
- 449 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Balanced connection
- -
- Yes
- Microphones
- 2
- -
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
- Call NR technology
- AI ENC
- -
What reviewers said
Audeze Maxwell 2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
HiFiMAN Ananda Unveiled
The HiFiMAN Ananda Unveiled is an open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers a highly detailed, spacious sound with a natural tonal balance and strong imaging. Its 80mm driver provides excellent bass and midrange performance, while the lighter build improves comfort for extended listening sessions. However, its stock accessories and packaging feel underwhelming, and its bass impact and vocal presence may not suit all listeners.
- Pro:Detailed and resolving planar sound
- Pro:Excellent bass and midrange performance
- Pro:Spacious soundstage with strong imaging
- Con:Mediocre stock accessories and packaging
- Con:Bass impact may be lacking for some
- Con:Vocal presence not ideal for everyone
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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